can some one please explain to me in brief what this message means? Thanks and God Bless........................................................
The Cost of Being a Disciple ...........................
25Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. 27And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
28"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'
31"Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to
2007-01-29 15:00:01 · 17 answers · asked by volcanne 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Jesus always plainly declared the high cost of discipleship and here He made several bold demands that would discourage the half-hearted..
The "hatred" is actually Jesus calling His disciples to cultivate such a devotion to Him that thier attachment for everything else-including their own lives-would seem like hatred by comparrison . He was not teaching us to "hate" for He personifies love as God is love
"carry our cross" is to die to self and put Him first,not self,ever.
vs. 28 in the King James version says "will he not first sit down and count the cost,whether he has enough to finish it (building a tower"here Jesus is encouraging the followers to do a careful inventory before declaring their willingness to follow Him-no matter what,how long and to completion.
further-in vs 33-..."...whoever of you does not forsake all-cannot be my disciple." Hard words yes-and it goes beyond giving up material things-it is an absolute surrender,unconditional,and that they were permitted to not cling to any earthly possessions or secret self-indulgances. Their committment to Him must be without reservations.
vs 28-thru 31 is a summery of all that-estimate the cost-consider if you have what it takes to be His disciple and then go all the way with Him.
As I reread this,I realize how shallow my committment often is.
Thanks for that worthwhile question..Dying to self is what it is all about-take up our "cross" (self) and committ mind,body,spirtit and soul to His will for our individual lives. Awesome!
2007-01-29 15:37:46 · answer #1 · answered by marlynembrindle 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Luke 14 25
2016-09-29 10:04:46 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All in all it really boils down to ... How bad do you want to follow.
The cost is homelessness. This is the Way! Opposite of materialistic and monetary gain.
Money Changers which Jesus drove out of the Temple now control the Central Banks for every country. These are the Ten Kings mentioned in Revelation. This is the Truth!
But you will not survive on your own, therefore you need the Spirit as your Comforter and Guide for without the Spirit you are useless. This is the Life!
So ... just how bad do you want it?
Jesus says "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life!"
2007-01-29 15:39:02 · answer #3 · answered by אידיאליסטי™ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus' comments here are an example of hyperbole, a figure of speech that exaggerates for emphasis. Jesus was setting up an extreme contrast to make a point: Our passion for Jesus should be so strong and so committed that our affection for our families could, by comparision, be considered hatred (Matt. 10:37-39).
By setting up such an exaggerated contrast, Jesus was describing the total commitment required from his disciples. We know Jesus was not literally calling us to hate our families. The balance of Biblical teaching tells us to honor our parents and love others. (for example, Exodus 20:12; Luke 10:26-28). Jesus was establishing priorities. We owe an unqualified loyalty and love to God. Then, because we put Him first, we are to love others. The two actually go hand in hand. (see Matt. 22:37-40).
2007-01-29 15:11:51 · answer #4 · answered by Mandy S 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We have to love God more than all these relationships father, mother, husband,children, etc. Remember Job, He still holded on to God though he lost his own family and friends, etc. God gave us everything around us, just like how a parent buys stuff for His children, but when children ignore the parent and enjoys the gift more, then something is wrong. Rather the child should give all the love and respect to the parent and enjoy the gift. Never it should be that gift gets the priority. Thats why so many missionaries were able to sacrifice their own life and spread the good news. Because they left their family and had submitted their whole life in God's hands. Its worth it :) .. Grow with God slowly, by trying to listen to what He says, and if you can't obey, tell Him to give you the ability to obey. Some need not be overnight changes also, but have a determination that you will co-operate and submit yourself in God's hands.
2007-01-29 15:29:15 · answer #5 · answered by Brinda 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It really costs something to become a disciple....sometimes you will have to make a sacrifice to serve the Lord, I spent 8 1/2 years on the road in a Christian Drama ministry. As much as I loved it, it meant I didn't get to watch my nieces and nephew grow up. I gave up my "family" to follow Christ. Now I'm having to give up spare time to spend in class as I'm studying to be a licensed minister. It may cost....but it is worth it. Nothing can ever compare with the joy of knowing that I'm doing His will, His way, in His time.
2007-01-30 04:57:45 · answer #6 · answered by Jan P 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus has to be first.
Jesus was trying to calm the crowds from an overeager anticipation of Jesus becoming their political Messiah and whomping/stomping the occupying forces of Rome. In essense, he is putting out the nature of Christian boot camp.
If parents are not Christian - you may be disowned or have to catch the El to church.
If wife is not Christian - you may find yourself alone on Sunday a.m. worship.
If children are not Christian - you may find your faith/morality expression challenged in your own home.
Count the cost of how much you are willing to love Jesus before all else 0 and then turn and still love your neighbor as yourself.
2007-01-29 15:10:50 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Man... why do people always read one verse and try to decipher what it means? When you are reading a book, do you start at the beginning and read to the end or do you just read one sentence and try to find the meaning of the entire chapter in that sentence? In order to know what that one verse means, I would read the entire 17th chapter. It's talking about the rapture. It is to describe the separation that will happen when He returns. He is coming back one day to rescue His church. Those who do not believe in Him or accept His forgiveness will be left behind to face tribulation and judgment. If you continue to read from verse 34, it says, " 'Two women will be grinding wheat together, the one will be taken and the other left. Two men will be in the field. The one will be taken, the other left.' "
2016-03-29 09:09:16 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus tells those who would be his followers to count the cost. Following Jesus sometimes means that we lose everything else. For many it has meant that their family turned against them. They had to choose to follow Jesus over having a father and mother.
The cross is an instrument of death. To carry my cross is to continue to die to my desires and my will and to live in and through Jesus.
2007-01-29 15:19:42 · answer #9 · answered by happygirl 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It means to be a deciple of Christ you must put your love of Christ above everything. He says in another verse that your love for your family should seem like hatred compared to your love in Jesus. I think it goes along those lines. It isnt that you must hate your family, just love Christ so much more.
The second part means that the deciples must be willing to follow Jesus to the end. They had a very important job to do.
2007-01-29 15:08:47 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋